‘The Sac 12’ aims to lift Sacramento State to the next level

Sep 13, 2024, 10:40 AM

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Sacramento State is taking its shot at joining the Pac-12 or Mountain West Conference.

According to a report published by Front Office Sports’ Amanda Christovich on Thursday afternoon, local politicians and business leaders in the Sacramento area were planning to launch a campaign to lift Sacramento State from the FCS into the FCS:

Both the Pac-12 and Mountain West will likely have plenty of west-coast suitors.

Local politicians and business leaders in Sacramento, for example, are planning to launch a campaign to get Sacramento State into the Pac-12 or Mountain West, a source tells FOS.

The school is currently playing in the Big Sky at the FCS level and would need to undergo the NCAA’s FBS transition process (as James Madison did). The conferences’ respective interest in the school is unknown at this time.

Front Office Sports’ Amanda Christovich – September 12, 2024

Not even 24 hours later, we now know which local figures will be included in the “SAC 12,” a committee that has the collective goal of “taking Sacramento State Athletics to the next level.”

Full release from today’s SAC 12 announcement regarding Sacramento State

On the heels of the PAC-12’s expansion announcement and the addition of four new universities to the conference, a new committee, the SAC 12, is launching today with the goal of taking Sacramento State Athletics to the next level by also joining the PAC-12.

The Sacramento State Hornets, currently members of the Big Sky Conference, won seven conference championships in 2023, reside in the 20th largest media market in the country and with a student population of over 30,000, are the fourth largest university in the Cal State system. If added to the PAC-12, they would make up the largest media market in the conference.

The newly formed SAC 12 is campaigning to empower and elevate the student-athletes of Sacramento State by taking all sports at the university to an elite Division I conference, including taking the football program from the FCS to the FBS to play in the PAC-12.

The SAC 12 Executive Committee is led by California State Senator Angelique Ashby, California State Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, Sacramento City Councilmember and former Sacramento State Student Body President, Eric Guerra, Mark Friedman of Fulcrum Properties, Steve Patterson, President of Patterson Properties, Jesus Tarango, Chairman of Wilton Rancheria, Lance Hasting, Alumni Association Chair and CEO of California Manufacturing and Technology Association, Bob Ward, Business Manager IBEW Local 340, Brandy Johnson, Director of Public Employees IUOE Local 39 and Otis Amey, Sacramento State alumni and former San Francisco 49er.

As the Pac 12 looks to rebuild there is no doubt @sacstate is a contender. Proud to help lead the conversation:

“Sacramento State and every student in their athletics program deserves to compete in a conference that mirrors their talent, commitment and leadership,” said SAC 12… https://t.co/REVBmNj4Id pic.twitter.com/iWOqalFzvS

— Senator Angelique Ashby (@SenatorAshby) September 13, 2024

The new organization is committed to taking the school’s athletics to the Pac-12 Conference or a similarly elite collegiate conference like the Mountain West.

“Playing football at Sacramento State put me on the path to elite competition that ultimately got me to the NFL,” said former NFL player Otis Amey. “I am excited to join the Sac 12 because I know that by joining a storied conference like the PAC-12, we can continue to prove the prowess of Sac State athletics and give the student athletes playing today opportunities for greatness on and off the field.”

“Sacramento State and every student in their athletics program deserves to compete in a conference that mirrors their talent, commitment and leadership,” said California State Senator Angelique Ashby. “The Hornets are not new to the scene. They’ve already shown their sustained ability to compete at the highest levels across multiple sports. This committee is on a mission to show the whole country what we here in Sacramento already know, that the Sac State Hornets are a force to be reckoned with on every field, court, pitch, track and course in the country. They are absolutely PAC-12 ready!”

“As a proud alumni, I am excited to get to work to bring Sacramento State to a major conference like the PAC-12,” said California State Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen. “Our student athletes, coaches, administration and fans are eager to compete at the highest level, and Sacramento’s diverse, metropolitan culture, size and importance to our state would make us a great addition to the conference.”

The Sacramento State Hornets have 21 athletic teams including men’s football, men’s baseball, men and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, rowing, soccer, tennis, and track and field and women’s gymnastics, beach volleyball, volleyball and softball.

The Hornets currently compete in NCAA Division I, and are members of the Big Sky Conference. The football program competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

The men’s soccer and women’s beach volleyball teams play as affiliate members in the Big West Conference, the baseball team plays as an affiliate member in the Western Athletic Conference, and the women’s rowing team is an affiliate of the American Athletic Conference.